中元(ちゅうげん)

ちゅうげん
noun
mid-year Taoist observance; origin of お中元
religionculture
1. mid-year Taoist observance; origin of お中元
Originally one of three Taoist calendrical observances, held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month as a day of repentance and offerings for the dead. In Japan the term was absorbed into Buddhist Obon practice and gave its name to お中元(ちゅうげん), the modern midsummer gift-giving custom.
中元(ちゅうげん)は道教(どうきょう)の行事(ぎょうじ)だ。
Chuugen is a Taoist observance.
中元(ちゅうげん)は旧暦(きゅうれき)の七月十五日(しちがつじゅうごにち)に当(あ)たる。
Chuugen falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
お中元(ちゅうげん)という夏(なつ)の贈(おく)り物(もの)の習慣(しゅうかん)は、道教(どうきょう)の中元(ちゅうげん)という行事(ぎょうじ)に由来(ゆらい)する。
The custom of お中元, giving summer gifts, has its origin in the Taoist observance called chuugen.

中元(ちゅうげん) was originally one of three Taoist calendrical observances (三元(さんげん): 上元(じょうげん), 中元(ちゅうげん), 下元(かげん)), each tied to a full moon of the lunar calendar. 中元(ちゅうげん) fell on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month and was a day of repentance, when offerings were made to ease the suffering of the dead.

Cultural note

When this observance reached Japan, it merged with the Buddhist 盂蘭盆(うらぼん) (Obon) tradition of honoring ancestors. The custom of giving gifts around this time of year evolved into today's お中元(ちゅうげん), the midsummer gift-giving custom for people one is grateful to.

The original religious meaning of 中元(ちゅうげん) is largely forgotten in modern Japan; most people encounter the word only as part of お中元(ちゅうげん).

Related Words

Related: お中元(ちゅうげん) (mid-year gift custom)
general
Added 2026.9.14 21:49 · Revised 2026.9.14 21:54
30500/30926_chuugen